REI Lense Blog – page 4
New NAHB data: Housing affordability hits fresh lows as mortgage rates climb
NAHB’s Q2 2026 index shows housing affordability worsened as mortgage rates rose and home prices stayed elevated, with big differences across metros.
6 min read
Higher Mortgage Rates Are Worsening Housing Affordability—And the Pain Isn’t Evenly Distributed
NAHB’s Q2 2026 data show higher mortgage rates and rising prices pushed affordability lower again, with sharp differences across metros and local supply shortages still driving price jumps.
6 min read
A ‘Frozen’ Housing Market Is Powering the Repair-and-Maintain Economy
High mortgage rates are keeping homeowners in place, shifting housing activity from moving to repairs, maintenance, and smaller home-improvement projects.
6 min read
Mortgage rates cool July demand: pending sales and starts fall, but home prices keep rising
July 2026 housing data show pending sales and housing starts falling as rates stay elevated, while home prices remain surprisingly resilient.
7 min read
Frozen housing market: prices stay high even as sales soften, squeezing younger buyers
August 2026 updates show U.S. home prices still rising year over year even as sales stay soft. High mortgage rates keep affordability tight.
7 min read
Housing Is Splitting by Metro: Record Prices, Cooling Demand, and New Construction Pipelines
Housing is diverging by metro: New Hampshire hit a record price, Seattle pending sales fell, and Savannah’s construction pipeline keeps expanding.
7 min read
How the AI boom is reshaping San Francisco home prices, rents, and buyer competition
AI-driven hiring and wealth are colliding with limited housing supply in San Francisco, pushing prices and rents higher and worsening affordability.
7 min read
Why Housing Investors Are Retreating: Price Cuts Rise, Flip Math Breaks, Even as U.S. Home Equity Stays High
Housing investors are retreating as price cuts and concessions rise, squeezing flip margins—even while overall U.S. homeowner equity remains near record levels.
7 min read
Rising price cuts are exposing soft spots in U.S. home values—here’s where it’s showing up
Price cuts are rising toward last year’s pace as buyer demand softens. Here’s what it means, where it’s showing up first, and why record equity matters.
7 min read
Price cuts near last year’s pace, while existing-home sales stay frozen: what it means for leverage
Price cuts are nearing last year’s pace in active listings while existing-home sales remain stuck near a 4 million annual rate—an early sign of local leverage shifts.
6 min read
July Existing-Home Sales Fall Again: High Mortgage Rates Meet July-Record Prices
July existing-home sales fell to a 4.06M annual pace as 30-year mortgage rates neared 6.7% and July prices stayed historically high, keeping affordability tight.
7 min read
Regional rebalancing is back: why some U.S. home prices are breaking records while others cool
U.S. home prices are diverging by region: some markets are still setting records while others cool as inventory improves and sellers adjust pricing.
7 min read
Housing affordability is fragmenting: record prices in some cities, below-list deals in others
Affordability pressures are splitting U.S. housing markets—record highs in some areas and below-list deals in others—spurring local funding and inspection responses.
6 min read
Homes are selling below asking in more metros — why affordability still hasn’t eased
Price cuts and below-asking sales are spreading across major U.S. metros, but high mortgage rates keep affordability strained for many buyers.
6 min read
Income Needed to Afford a Typical U.S. Home Stays Near $110K—And the Listing Mix Is a Big Reason Why
Buyers still need roughly a $110k income to afford a typical U.S. home, and much of today’s inventory remains mismatched with middle-income budgets.
7 min read
From modular infill to rate buydowns: how affordability pilots are targeting the real cost drivers
U.S. housing pilots are testing modular infill, resident-built self-help townhomes, and mortgage rate buydowns—while soft costs like fees keep pressure on prices.
6 min read
Q2 2026 Home Prices Rose in Most Metros—Why Affordability Is Still Getting Worse
NAR’s Q2 2026 metro report shows home prices rising in most U.S. metros again, with big regional splits and continued affordability strain from mid-6% mortgage rates.
7 min read
Northeast Leads the Q2 2026 Rebound in Metro Home Prices (Even as Affordability Stays Tight)
Q2 2026 metro data show home prices rising in most U.S. markets again, with the Northeast leading gains while affordability stays tight.
7 min read
Pennsylvania’s Median Home Price Hits a Record $340K—Why Affordability Keeps Getting Harder
Pennsylvania’s median home sale price hit a record $340,000 in June 2026. Tight inventory and mid-6% mortgage rates are keeping affordability strained.
7 min read
Why the U.S. housing market is holding up at high rates (even as list prices fall)
July 2026 data show U.S. list prices falling year over year, but homes selling slightly faster as price cuts rise and regional differences keep affordability tight.
6 min read
How ADUs, Tiny Homes, and Pre-Approved Plans Are Expanding Affordable Housing Options
Cities are expanding ADUs, exploring tiny homes, and using pre-approved plans to cut permitting time—paired with affordability rules like income caps and counseling.
7 min read
New Federal Housing Law Targets Supply And Corporate Home Buyers
A new federal housing law is rolling out nationwide, giving states and cities tools to boost homebuilding while curbing large corporate purchases of single‑family homes. Local leaders and housing groups are assessing how its funding, incentives, and buyer restrictions could ease severe shortages and improve affordability across U.S. markets.
Luxury homes keep moving while starter homes stall: what a segmented 2026 housing cooldown looks like
A cooler U.S. housing market is splitting by price tier: luxury and second-home demand holds up while starter homes face slower sales and more price cuts.
6 min read
Home prices are fragmenting: why some metros are cooling while others still rise
Home prices are increasingly local: Zillow’s national forecast is near flat, while some Sun Belt metros cool and other regions keep modest gains.
7 min read